any advice for PIP assessment please thank you !?

NeilCr

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Documents/Advice%20(public)/pip-helpsheet-assessment.pdf

Prinzessilein

Just another voice here for NOT telling the assessor only about your worst day...and certainly for NOT exaggerating symptoms to reflect your worst day.

I would agree that having someone with you can be a support, but why would they carry a bag/papers for you if you are able to do this on the day?

Be honest, tell things as they are. The assessor will try to get yes/no answers but you can give details of how things affect you.

Ames

NoodleSoup wrote: »

i did exactly that when i went for a ESA assesment about 3 years ago told them about my bad days and good days but they still gave me 0 points on everything i really feel like i am getting very conflicted advice here might delete the op altogether ESA is a different benefit. Please don't delete the OP. You're not getting conflicting advice on this thread - we're all telling you the same thing.

also how on gods earth would anyone be committing fraud if they go to a DWP assessment [just like they would when they go to a drs appointment] when they are sick? Of course they wouldn't be committing fraud. But going and saying that every day is the worst day, if it isn't, is fraud. Doing things at the assessment that you don't do normally would be fraud. Asking someone else to carry your bag, when you always carry it yourself in real life, would be like someone borrowing a wheelchair for the assessment when they don't need to use one any other time.

ive been through the form filling out then posting it off and then the assessment system a few times times in the past with ESA so i do have some idea of how it works i have even had a tribunal and won it if i was committing fraud even back then the tribunal would have seen it, right? Again, ESA is a different benefit.

also the DWP/atos/capita have never contacted my community link worker [+ they never contacted my DR in the past when i apply for ESA] which made me really think today
1. what is the point why do they ask for that information if they do not take it into consideration when making the final decision
and They almost never contact people for evidence. The onus is on you to send evidence to support your claim
2. i could put down a bunch of local mental health services that i never used but i did not because to me that would be open to an accusation of fraud

and mental health is not an act to me this is not a act i put on it is very real to me I'm not saying that mental health is an act. But if you do things in the assessment that you don't do in everyday life, that is putting on an act.
and it affects me physically as well as mentally
over the years i have tried many medications and treatments to try and help it
for me it is a ongoing process that i have to work at but its not easy
this is why i applied for PIP
i want to get some paid therapy
i have been on the waiting list with insight [part on the NHS] since January
but i need to talk to someone now
i need to work through it all again now
i have found some local therapists in my area which will consider a payment plan for anyone on limited income like certain benefits

The reason I asked if you're in Leeds is that if you're referring to Community Links the charity, then I've had the same bad advice from them in the past. Unless it's changed recently they don't have paid benefits advisors, they have someone who's done a bit of reading. If you follow their advice to say every day's a bad day even if it isn't then you'll be committing fraud.

NoodleSoup

NeilCr wrote: »

you posted a link to CAB

poppy12345 wrote: »

also If you're planning on going to your assessment and telling them it's your worst day, if it's not, ask someone to carry your paper work for you, when that's not what you normally do, or stop walking because your anxiety won't let you, when again that's not what you normally do, then i wish you good luck. To me this putting on an act to claim a benefit.

my local MP sent me this link
to citizensadvice benefits sick or disabled people and carers pip help with your claim your assessment
[i cant post links everytime i try it say
>>>
The following errors occurred with your submission: Sorry as a new user you are not allowed to post with links. This is done to stop spammers clogging up the site. Please edit your message below to continue.]

anyway

the advice on there is as follows

Talking about how your condition affects you
You should be prepared to talk about how your condition affects you even if you’ve already detailed it on your PIP claim form. It can be hard to do this but it will really help if you can talk about:

the kind of things you have difficulty with, or can’t do at all - for example, walking up steps without help or remembering to go to appointments
how your condition affects you from day to day
what a bad day is like for you - for example, ‘On a bad day, I can’t walk at all because my injured leg hurts so much’ or ‘On a bad day, I’m so depressed I can’t concentrate on anything’

---

and just like ESA you can do paid and unpaid work while being on PIP
though i think you are advised to tell the DWP if you are going to do paid or unpaid work while on these benefits

also because of my anxiety i have a physical symptom called acid reflux
i had it for many years before i was diagnosed by my Dr
but once they told me what it was and why i get it i was then advised to take daily medication for the physical symptoms of acid reflux
i have already put that in the form so that is what i will have to talk about at the assessment
and no it is not just happening on a ''bad day''
this is something i have to prevent daily
if i do not take the medication every morning i get the symptoms of acid reflux
so this is every day for me not just on ''bad days''

also recently i have been advised to take and have been prescribed iron tablets again i have to take these daily so yes my diet is very poor and that is a symptom of depression which again is daily not just on ''bad days''

and when having a bad time because of anxiety i do have to stop whatever i am doing and wait until it passes so yes that is what i would normally do
once again i do not put a act on
anxiety and depression are very real i have both mental and physical symptoms which i have suffered from for years
it is not an act i put on
i do not understand why some assume it is an act we put on
its not
for me it is real
and it is part of my everyday life

maybe i should not but i look on this assessment as the worst thing that could happen
the fact that they want me to prove my condition by going to an assessment with them puts my back up right away
[as someone already said it is ''normal'' to feel nervous but im more than just nervous]
i fear the worst and yes that is due to my anxiety and depression
the person i am going to see for my assessment is not my Dr
they are not my friend
they are someone who is going to asses and judge me in every way possible
and they are looking for any excuse to catch me out
im p!***d off that i have to prove my condition to anyone
i would rather not be this way
i just want to run away and not be me
i want to be someone else
but i cant do that anymore
i have to start taking responsibility for myself and fight this head on so i can have some independence maybe find some peace of mind
and carry on going because for me this will always be ongoing

NeilCr

This is the link you were referring to

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/your-assessment/

The one that I posted is in the middle of that very page.

No-one here is saying that you are putting an act. What the respondents have said is that you should not follow any advice to lie or exaggerate your condition with which I totally agree. Tell the truth and act normally.

You need to think about where you are going to score points. I'd be very surprised, for example, if having acid reflux (which I have so I sympathise) will be worth anything. The medication, as I know, does sort it out.

NoodleSoup

NeilCr wrote: »

This is the link you were referring to

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/your-assessment/

The one that I posted is in the middle of that very page.

No-one here is saying that you are putting an act. What the respondents have said is that you should not follow any advice to lie or exaggerate your condition with which I totally agree. Tell the truth and act normally.

You need to think about where you are going to score points. I'd be very surprised, for example, if having acid reflux (which I have so I sympathise) will be worth anything. The medication, as I know, does sort it out.

thank you Neil but i think i will talk about the acid reflux at the assessment even if they dont want to hear about it it is a physical symptom of my anxiety which i have it is not nice at all but i have to deal with it daily

once again i cant post links but i hope you know what i mean when i talk about the descriptors
ok so...
as for the descriptors [on the form this is how i already answered and the points that should be awarded accordingly]

1. Preparing food
i answered b [which should award 2 points]
i also answered c [which should award 2 points]
[i think maybe this is a good place to talk about my anxiety around food not just preparing it [which i have to have someone already prepare it for me anyway] but also eating it this is where the acid reflux comes in]

2. Taking nutrition
i answered c [which should award 2 points]
i also answered d [which should award 4 points]
[i also think this is where the acid reflux medication could be talked about]

3. Managing
therapy or
monitoring a
health
condition
i answered b [which should award 1 points]
i also answered c [which should award 2 points]

4. Washing
and bathing
i answered b [which should award 2 points]
i also answered c [which should award 2 points]

5. Managing
toilet needs
or
incontinence
i answered a [which should award 0 points]

6. Dressing
and
undressing
i answered b [which should award 2 points]
i also answered c [which should award 2 points]

7.
Communicating
verbally
i answered b [which should award 2 points]
i answered c [which should award 4 points]

8. Reading
and
understanding
signs,
symbols and
words
i answered a [which should award 0 points]

9. Engaging
with other
people face
to face
i answered b [which should award 2 points]
i answered c [which should award 4 points]

10. Making
budgeting
decisions
i answered a [which should award 0 points]

Mobility Activities

1. Planning
and following
journeys
i answered c [which should award 8 points]
i also answered d [which should award 10 points]

2. Moving
around
i answered d [which should award 10 points]

i think added up altogether that is 59 points
out of what im not sure
umm ok please help me someone i am no good at maths

:shocked:

.added.
hold up now im confused do they not add all the points up?
do they just do it by the way you answer each question?
ok im really rather confused now !?!?
.edited.

NeilCr

I didn't say you couldn't talk about it. I understand that you can mention it in relation to your anxiety. I, really, really, don't think that taking acid reflux medication is going to help you score points in nutrition.

I'd also worry about your expectations. People just don't score 59 points for PIP. Has anyone sat down with you and discussed exactly where you may be able to score points.

If you go in with a scattergun approach of expecting to get points everywhere then you may have a problem. You need to concentrate on the areas where you have a good chance - remember you need 8-12 points to get PIP.

NoodleSoup

NeilCr wrote: »

I didn't say you couldn't talk about it. I understand that you can mention it in relation to your anxiety. I, really, really, don't think that taking acid reflux medication is going to help you score points in nutrition.

I'd also worry about your expectations. People just don't score 59 points for PIP. Has anyone sat down with you and discussed exactly where you may be able to score points.

If you go in with a scattergun approach of expecting to get points everywhere then you may have a problem. You need to concentrate on the areas where you have a good chance - remember you need 8-12 points to get PIP.

yes i got help filling out the form in fact they filled it out for me did a very good job at wording things correctly
i made rough notes but the guys who helped me fill out the form knew how to say what i said in rough in a more understable and readable way

also the questions they ask at the assessment might be the same as the ones on the form, right? also they might ask some new questions
or maybe ask them in a different way so they will appear new
i dont know
i have no idea what will be asked and what will not be asked
maybe its a scattergun approach
im just trying to prepare myself for all eventualities

so...

should i just concentrate on

Mobility Activities

1. Planning
and following
journeys
i answered c [which should award 8 points]
i also answered d [which should award 10 points]

2. Moving
around
i answered d [which should award 10 points]

!?!

poppy12345

I think you've totally misunderstood the PIP descriptors and what they mean! You can not score points more than once in any descriptor! There's 2 parts to PIP, daily living and mobility and you don't add them both together.



Managing therapy, unless you have therapy at your own home you will not score anymore than 1 point in the descriptor. Therapy outside of your home is not classed as therapy for PIP and will not award you those points.


For the descriptors you've ticked to use an aid an appliance. An aid an appliance for PIP are things like perching stools, grab rails, bath seats, walking sticks, incontinence pads, levered taps...do you use any of these?


Moving around part is aimed at those with a physical disability, a person that would be unable to walk because of pain and discomfort.You say in your comment above about a physical disability because of your acid reflux, you don't say anywhere that you can't walk because of a physical disability. Not being able to walk because of your anxiety will not score you any points in the moving around part. For mental health it will be the following and planning a journey.


I'm sorry but you're going to be totally shocked when you realise that it's impossible for you to score that many points.



Complete the PIP self test here.

http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php


I wish you good luck.

w06

NoodleSoup, I got lost in your reasoning a bit but at the assessment all you need to do is be yourself, behave as you would at any other meeting. Answer their questions openly and honestly, be willing to discuss where necessary.

That's it, that's all you need to do.

I'd not heard of a descriptor when I had my assessment (I avoided reading about PIP until I'd been throught the process because didn't want to get worried about it). At my assessment we discussed work, teaching, what I used to do but can't now, my dogs, DIY, the house and who and how people help me and how rubbish parking was at the venue.